Ron <ron.clifford@peoplepc.com> wrote:
>Only if the phone in question is "unlocked" allowing such.
>
>Neither T-Mobile nor ATT currently sell unlocked phones, but will
>unlock phones at the end of a contract.

At 25 Jan 2009 15:35:02 -0600 Ron wrote:
> >Since T Mobile and ATT are both GSM based isn't it
> >possible to use phones and SIM cards between BOTH
> >systems?
>
> Only if the phone in question is "unlocked" allowing such.
>
> Neither T-Mobile nor ATT currently sell unlocked phones, but will
> unlock phones at the end of a contract.

They'll both actually do it 90 days, as long as you're a customer in good
standing.

me@privacy.net wrote:
> Ron <ron.clifford@peoplepc.com> wrote:
>
>> Only if the phone in question is "unlocked" allowing such.
>>
>> Neither T-Mobile nor ATT currently sell unlocked phones, but will
>> unlock phones at the end of a contract.
>
> I see
>
>
> Any way to unlock them yourself?

At 25 Jan 2009 18:59:52 -0600 me@privacy.net wrote:
> >Only if the phone in question is "unlocked" allowing such.
> >
> >Neither T-Mobile nor ATT currently sell unlocked phones, but will
> >unlock phones at the end of a contract.
>
> I see
>
>
> Any way to unlock them yourself?

Sure, depending on your cost-tolerance.

Just Google "unlock <insert make/model of phone>" and see just how many
people will trade you an unlock code for $20-$30 of your hard-earned
money! ;-)

On 2009-01-26, me@privacy.net <me@privacy.net> wrote:
> News <News@Group.name> wrote:
>
>>> Any way to unlock them yourself?
>>
>>
>>Yes, OR, buy an unlocked phone and use the service you choose.
>
> OK but appears that ATT wont let me have a monthly pay
> plan even if I provide my own phone, correct?

AT&T will generally love to sell you a paid monthly plan as long
as your credit isn't too bad. If you mean a monthly plan without
a contract, however, I have seen press reports quoting AT&T as saying
they'll sell service without a contract if you bring your own phone
but I've never found an AT&T store where they'll admit this is a
possibility (perhaps the guys in stores get paid for selling contracts)
so you might have to do some work to convince someone to sell to you
if you want to be free of a contract.

me@privacy.net wrote:
> News <News@Group.name> wrote:
>
>>> Any way to unlock them yourself?
>>
>> Yes, OR, buy an unlocked phone and use the service you choose.
>
> OK but appears that ATT wont let me have a monthly pay
> plan even if I provide my own phone, correct?

Dennis Ferguson <dcferguson@pacbell.net> wrote:
> If you mean a monthly plan without
>a contract, however, I have seen press reports quoting AT&T as saying
>they'll sell service without a contract if you bring your own phone
>but I've never found an AT&T store where they'll admit this is a
>possibility (perhaps the guys in stores get paid for selling contracts)
>so you might have to do some work to convince someone to sell to you
>if you want to be free of a contract.

Yes I'm sorry that it was I mean..... I didn't word it
right in last post

I already have a SIM based GSM phone but when I asked
local ATT rep if I can get a monthly plan and NOT get
bogged down in contract the answer was no

Ron wrote:
> On Sun, 25 Jan 2009 11:24:52 -0600, me@privacy.net wrote:
>
>> Since T Mobile and ATT are both GSM based isn't it
>> possible to use phones and SIM cards between BOTH
>> systems?
>
> Only if the phone in question is "unlocked" allowing such.
>
> Neither T-Mobile nor ATT currently sell unlocked phones, but will
> unlock phones at the end of a contract.
ATT unlocked my phone 2 months into a contract when going to China. I
put in a China Mobile GSM card while there and it worked perfectly. I
just told them I was going to China and they emailed me the code with
instructions.

In message <qrprn45209o8u88ch1f3kp9cug06cbovlh@4ax.com> me@privacy.net
was claimed to have wrote:
>Dennis Ferguson <dcferguson@pacbell.net> wrote:
>
>> If you mean a monthly plan without
>>a contract, however, I have seen press reports quoting AT&T as saying
>>they'll sell service without a contract if you bring your own phone
>>but I've never found an AT&T store where they'll admit this is a
>>possibility (perhaps the guys in stores get paid for selling contracts)
>>so you might have to do some work to convince someone to sell to you
>>if you want to be free of a contract.
>
>Yes I'm sorry that it was I mean..... I didn't word it
>right in last post
>
>I already have a SIM based GSM phone but when I asked
>local ATT rep if I can get a monthly plan and NOT get
>bogged down in contract the answer was no

Go for the most expensive free phone you can get, and/or see if it's
worth paying a bit for an even more expensive phone. Sign the contract,
sell the phone and put the cash in a "In case I need to cancel the two
year contract" fund.

If you end up sticking out the two years, you buy your
wife/girlfriend/husband/boyfriend/kid/cat/self an expensive dinner. If
not, you pay AT&T the money and aren't any worse off.

DevilsPGD <DeathToSpam@crazyhat.net>
wrote:
>Go for the most expensive free phone you can get, and/or see if it's
>worth paying a bit for an even more expensive phone. Sign the contract,
>sell the phone and put the cash in a "In case I need to cancel the two
>year contract" fund.